Gunnison Copper (TSX:GCU) exists to develop and operate copper mines in Southern Arizona to produce fully Made in America finished copper cathode to directly supply American energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains. Gunnison proudly hires locally, purchases locally, and sells its products locally. Gunnison invests in its employees, their families, and the communities around it. Gunnison operates safely and responsibly with a focus on technology and positive societal impact, while also emphasizing long-term value creation for stakeholders.

The company’s Johnson Camp Mine (JCM) is now in production, delivering 100% Made-in-America copper cathode from run-of-mine (ROM) ore. The operation is working with Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, to advance the next phase of development, which will deploy Nuton™ technologies to expand production and unlock the district’s sulfide potential.

A comprehensive PEA was just completed on the Company’s “Gunnison Project”, which incorporates a large open pit of predominantly copper oxide mineralization approximately 2 kilometers south of JCM. The Project is a low cost, environmentally-friendly being pure copper cathode via SXEW and is designed to produce around 167 million pounds of copper cathode annually.

The Company also owns a portfolio of adjacent exploration projects, including the historical South Star deposit and the Peabody Sill and the Strong and Harris deposits.

Corporate Presentation

Our Projects

GUNNISON PROJECT

The Gunnison Project is located about 65 miles east of Tucson, Arizona on the southeastern flank of the Little Dragoon Mountains in the Cochise Mining District. The property is within the copper porphyry belt of Arizona. The Gunnison Project hosts the Gunnison deposit and contains copper oxide and sulfide mineralization in potentially economic concentrations.

The Company completed a PEA in Q4 2024, outlining an open pit heap leach and SX/EW operation extending over 18 years and producing LME Grade A copper cathodes directly onsite.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Private and State land package and 100% ownership in Tier 1 jurisdiction
• Onsite power, rail and water in place
• Simple open pit heap-leach and SXEW operation
• Permitting framework is simple and streamlined with the State

NEXT STEPS

• Metallurgy and infill drilling
• Pre-Feasibility Study
• Definitive Feasibility Study
• Construction Decision

Highlights of the PEA (United States dollars) 

• The Gunnison Project, a fully vertically integrated operation producing finished copper cathode on-site in Arizona for domestic U.S. supply chains, has an after-tax net present value (8%) of $1.3 billion and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 20.9% at a long-term copper price of $4.10/lb;
• One of the most substantial open pit copper projects in the U.S. with total Measured and Indicated (“M&I”) Mineral Resources in the open pit of 551 million tons at a total copper grade of 0.35%, capable of supplying 8% of recent annual U.S. domestic copper production^[1]
• Simplified and lower risk path to permitting; the Gunnison Project has current operating permits and there is a more streamlined amendment process to State and Local permits to proceed with open pit mining;
• Significant benefits for the community and local economy through the payment of over $840 million in U.S. federal, state, and local taxes, partnerships with local institutions such as Cochise College, and the creation of over 650 local jobs;
• Average annual copper cathode production of 83,700 tons (167 million lbs) over the first 16 years and total production of 1,355,900 tons (2,712 million lbs) over the entire 18 year mine life at an average Cash Cost (C1) of $1.42/lb and Sustaining Cash Cost^[1] of $1.94/lb of copper produced;
• Total initial capital cost of $1.3 billion and after-tax payback period for initial capital of 4.1 years;
  Environmental advantages include lower water usage per pound of copper produced versus copper concentrate producers, up to 10% reduced energy consumption due to on-site clean energy production, and zero risk of environmental impacts from tailings dam failures as there are no tailings produced.

The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

^[1] U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2024

^[2] Sustaining Cash Cost = Cash Cost + Sustaining Capex + Deferred Stripping + Royalties

Johnson Camp Mine (JCM)

 Gunnison, with Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture is now producing copper cathode from run-of-mine ore, with first copper production using Nuton technologies expected later this year.

The Stage 2 work program is anticipated to take up to five years, and mining is expected to commence in year one with first copper produced from Nuton technology in 2025.

The completion of all milestones would result in full scale commercial production of Nuton copper over several years at Johnson Camp. Revenue from operations will first be used to pay back Stage 2 costs to Nuton and will then be credited to Gunnison’s account after fulfillment of Gunnison’s applicable royalty and stream obligations.

After the completion of Stage 2, Nuton will have the right to form a joint venture on Johnson Camp per mutually agreeable terms whereby Nuton will hold an initial 49% and Gunnison an initial 51% interest.

About Nuton Technology

 Introducing a new era of copper recovery

Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, has partnered with Gunnison Copper Corp. to restart operations at Johnson Camp Mine in Arizona. The site is currently producing copper using Gunnison Copper Corp.’s conventional leaching process. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in sustainable copper extraction, as Nuton prepares to deploy its proprietary technologies to process hard-to-leach ores.

The project will operate both Gunnison Copper Corp.’s existing leaching method and Nuton® Technology in parallel, with Nuton expected to produce more than 5 million pounds of copper annually, beginning with its first copper output in late 2025.

Board of Directors

Fred DuVal – Chairman of the Board

Mr. DuVal is currently a consultant to many American businesses, and a member of Dentons Law, the largest law firm in the world; he is also a senior advisor to Macquarie Infrastructure on public-private partnerships. Mr. DuVal was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Arizona in 2014 and served as Chairman of the Arizona Board of Regents and on the Arizona Commerce Commission. Mr. DuVal was Chief of Protocol of the United States, Assistant to President Clinton in the White House and responsible for all Governors and state issues; he was also the Political Director for Vice President Al Gore.

Stephen Twyerould, Ph.D. – Chief Executive Officer and President

Dr. Twyerould has over 35 years of experience in the mining industry including executive, operations, projects and technical, covering a wide range of commodities with a focus on copper, gold and nickel. Dr. Twyerould has a proven track record of unlocking potential to deliver operational improvements and business growth. He has been instrumental in raising finance and providing leadership to several successful junior and mid-tier mining companies. Mr. Twyerould received a doctorate in Geology and Geochemistry from the University of Oregon in 1997 and a BSc (Hons) in Geology from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 1984.

Michael Haworth – Director

Mr. Haworth was nominated to the Board of Directors by Greenstone Resources, a private equity fund specialising in the mining and metals sector. The Greenstone team has over 80 years of experience in the sector covering all aspects of mining project development.

Jason Howe – Director

Mr. Howe is a seasoned mining executive with over 20 years of experience in corporate development, finance, and executive leadership. He has a proven track record in leading strategic acquisitions, fostering stakeholder relationships, and driving sustainable growth in the mining industry. Mr. Howe was a co-founder of Capstone Mining Corp. where he led their Business Development, Marketing and HR functions. In addition, Mr. Howe was co-founder of Silverstone Resources and served as CFO until its acquisition from Wheaton Precious Metals

Joseph Gallucci, MBA, ICD.D – Director

Mr. Gallucci is a capital markets executive and director with more than 20 years of experience including investment banking and equity research.  His career has spanned across several firms including BMO Capital Markets, GMP Securities, Dundee Securities, he was a co-founder of Eight Capital where he led their Mining Investment Banking team and he was a Managing Director, Head of Investment Banking at Laurentian Bank Securities where he oversaw the entire investment banking franchise. His current role is Managing Director, Head of Mining Investment Banking at Ventum financial where he oversees the mining practice. He has experience in corporate finance, and mergers & acquisitions including many notable transactions and was directly involved in raising over $1 billion for mining companies with a focus on base and precious metal companies.

Management

Stephen Twyerould, Ph.D. – Chief Executive Officer and President

Dr. Twyerould has over 35 years of experience in the mining industry including executive, operations, projects and technical, covering a wide range of commodities with a focus on copper, gold and nickel. Dr. Twyerould has a proven track record of unlocking potential to deliver operational improvements and business growth. He has been instrumental in raising finance and providing leadership to several successful junior and mid-tier mining companies. Mr. Twyerould received a doctorate in Geology and Geochemistry from the University of Oregon in 1997 and a BSc (Hons) in Geology from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 1984.

Roland Goodgame, Ph.D. – Senior Vice President Business Development

Dr. Goodgame has been involved in the mining industry for over 30 years and has held senior roles in several large mining companies.  He served as Senior Geologist of Anglo American PLC from March 2002 to January 2007 and was responsible for Asia/Pacific nickel and copper exploration and project evaluation/generation. Prior to this, he spent 14 years with WMC Resources Ltd., where he gained extensive experience in small and large scale gold and nickel mining.  He received his doctorate in Geology and Geochemical Modeling at the University of Oregon in 1997. Dr. Goodgame graduated with a B.Sc. in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1987.

Craig Hallworth – Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Hallworth is the former Chief Financial Officer, Arizona Business Unit at Hudbay Minerals where he held various finance leadership roles over 13 years. While at Hudbay, he led the development and optimization of all financial aspects of the Copper World Project, a re-designed mega-project with over one billion tons of copper resources. He was also involved at the corporate level in the financing and construction of three new mines in Canada and Peru. Prior to Hudbay, Mr. Hallworth was a manager with Ernst & Young LLP servicing a portfolio of copper and gold mining companies. Mr. Hallworth is a CPA accountant and CFA Charterholder and he obtained an Honors Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University.

Robert Winton, P.Eng – Chief Operating Officer

Excelling in the areas of strategic planning and leadership, Mr. Winton brings to Gunnison over 20 years of management experience within the mining industry. Mr. Winton was most recently the President and GM of Nyrstar Clarksville Inc., where he was responsible for the Clarksville Smelter, a 130 kiloton zinc refinery located in Tennessee. From 1997 to 2016, Mr. Winton enjoyed a diverse and accomplished career with Hudbay Minerals Inc., a diversified mining company that produces copper, gold, silver and zinc from several operations throughout North and South America. Most notably, from 2014 to 2016, Mr. Winton was Vice-President of the Manitoba Business Unit for Hudbay Minerals Inc.; in this role he was responsible for an autonomous base-metal business unit that comprised three underground mines, three mills, a zinc refinery, and over 1,400 employees. Mr. Winton is a registered Professional Engineer; he graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.

Melissa Mackie – Director, Investor Relations and Communications

Ms. Mackie has extensive experience in investor relations, communications, and stakeholder engagement within the mining sector. Prior to Gunnison Copper, she held senior roles in capital markets and communications across the resource industry. She leads Gunnison’s investor relations strategy and corporate communications, connecting the company with shareholders, media, and key stakeholders.

Sheila Paine – Corporate Secretary

Ms. Paine has over 30 years’ experience as a senior paralegal, specializing in corporate, securities and regulatory matters both in Canada and the United States. For the past 15 years, Sheila has acted as Corporate Secretary or Assistant Corporate Secretary for a number of public companies trading on various stock exchanges. In addition to being the Corporate Secretary of Gunnison Copper, she is currently the Corporate Secretary of Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc. (Cboe Exchange Canada and OTCQB) and Intrepid Metals Corp. (TSX-V and OTCQB).

Contact

Arizona Office

Concord Place, Suite 300 – 2999 North 44th Street
Phoenix, AZ
85018

For investor relations please contact:

Melissa Mackie
Director, Investor Relations and Communications
Info@gunnisoncopper.com
647-533-4536